New Team Shadowing

[Andrew Schuetze]

A teacher from a nearby school became interested in starting a robotics team after watching our team's season video collage.

I suggested that they start next year by participating in the local BEST game and then shadow our team during FIRST.

My ideas are to invite the teachers to some of our preseason mentor meetings and then invite their students from BEST to our annual kick-off viewing party and subsequant brainstorm session. :cool:

Now, how about the build season? This is when the real fun for mentors start as there are so many critical issues that arise during this time-crunched window. Students could benefit from experiencing the hectic pace as well. I would assume that the individuals shadowing are going to make suggestions and want to lay hands on tools and help build. Is that an issue?

My final thoughts are to have the potential new team charter a bus and attend the Saturday events of the Lone Star regional which we attend. I am also going to suggest that the team main contact join our team for the entire event beginning on Thursday. One needs to expereince the whole event from uncrating and how we run team meetings ....


So please post away, regardless if you have hosted a shadow team or not. :cool:

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Judging by the fact that you recommend shadowing, is it possible to assume that their team may have financial difficulty?

To give them the best opportunities, if finance allows it, would be to let them start a team, and learn from the difficulty of those time-crunched hours. As a mentor team, you can help them so much by training them (both students and teachers) in robotics and the principles of design and strategy.

Attend kickoff together, if possible, and let them be their own team with their own number and identity. If they aren't able to get sponsorship, your shadow idea is spectacular. Just keep in mind, that the strongest mentor team is the one that can give a rookie team the resources to thrive on its own: providing those resources should be your priority if you choose to take a team under your wing. :) This way, in the future, there will be a local area team that you can collaborate with both socially, technologically, and in projects.

[Beth Sweet]

Ok Genia, I'm disagreeing, don't worry, I still like ya.

As much as I loved the team we had this year, I would most certainly suggest that you have them try a year without competing before starting a team. They need finances as Genia said. As a veteran team, I'm sure that you can give them an estimate of about how much they will need money wise. (Hint: while it's possible to run a team on $7,000, it's reeeeeeeally tough) Also, they will need to have mentors who know what they're doing. Once again, you know what kind of technical knowledge (programming, electrical, efficient design techniques etc) these mentors will need to have.

My suggestion? Have the team mock a FIRST year in their first year, attending the kickoff with your team, and have them design and make a robot. Have them try to do it in 6 weeks, but if they can't, they can't. Next, have them come to one of your competitions to watch and see what to expect. Have them take turns coming down to the pits to observe your pit crew and have them practice things like scouting and especially cheering! Once they've done all this, have them try out an offseason event. #1, they're a heck of a lot cheaper than real ones. #2, they tend to be a bit more laid back so that the team can ease into the process.

If they try things this way, they shouldn't be overwhelmed, plus they'll have a robot to show off when they first start out. As I'm sure you know, it helps to have an extra robot hanging around for things like driver tryouts or presentations.

Just for the record, this is my personal opinion and the way that I would have done things if I had the opportunity to do it all over again. Whatever way they decide to do things, I assure you they'll have fun, especially with another team standing right over their shoulder to help out if things get tough! :D

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Looking at it from Beth's direction, I'd definitly have to say I'd change my answer in some regard, based on how much you plan to teach the students/mentors before the season starts :-D

Beth you rock. May I adopt you, for team creating purposes? :P :P :P

Yay, adopting people, even ones who are older than me. O.o

[Andrew Schuetze]

attending the kickoff with your team, and have them design and make a robot. Have them try to do it in 6 weeks, but if they can't, they can't. :D

Now thats an idea I had not thought of doing. It will satisfy their urges to build without the pressures of failure.

pit crew and have them practice things like scouting and especially cheering! Once they've done all this, have them try out an offseason event. :D

Once again, an idea for what they can do while at the competition. We could draft them as scouts since we are helping them out and it is always nice to cheer


If they try things this way, they shouldn't be overwhelmed, plus they'll have a robot to show off when they first start out. As I'm sure you know, it helps to have an extra robot hanging around for things like driver tryouts or presentations. :D

Excellent points that I will share with them as I continue to sell this idea. Driver practice and protobot to play with early in the following year's build. :D

[Steve W]

If possible why not follow the example of the Niagara FIRST trio.Have 2 teams build 2 robots the are the same. They still get to compete, learn and get excited and your team will get a chance to watch the other team grow. I believe that this is the best way to have teams with limited mentor resources get going.

There is the issue with fund raising which can be the toughest part of FIRST. Good luck!!!!!!!!

[EricH]

I've seen suggestions like this around before, but here goes: Invite this new team to be part of your team for a year or two, then let them split off when they want. They get experience, you get more members for a while. Win-win scenario. Of course, if the other school is in another district, it might not work out.

This works the same as having them "shadow" your team with the difference that they are part of your team.

[Andrew Schuetze]

, then let them split off when they want. They get experience, you get more members for a while. Win-win scenario. Of course, if the other school is in another district, it might not work out.


Okay, you hit it dead on. 499 is a multicampus team already within our district. This new contact is in a neighboring district and that would be too many hassles for budget concerns.

So, I see shadowing as the best chance to get them free experience without the pressures of getting a working robot out their first year. I should have stated that in my original posting. I received two pm with that suggestion already :p

Keep the good ideas flowing :)


APS